Mail-box time-indicator.



N0. 636,993. Patented Nov. I4, I899.

E. M. HOAGLAND &. D. S. RICHARDSON.

MAIL BOX TIME INDICATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1899.) o Model.) 2 Sheets8haet l.

Patented Nov. 14.1399.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. M. HOAGLAND &. D. S. RICHARDSON- MAIL BOX TIME INDICATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLERY M. HOAGLAND AND DANIEL s. RIcHARDsON, OF OAKLAND, OALI FORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE MONTAGUE INDICATOR AND LETTER BOX OOMPANY, OF sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MAIL-BOX TIME-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,993, dated November 14:, 18955;

Application filed August 23, 1899. Serial No. 728,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known;that we, ELLERY M. HOAGLAND and DANIEL S. RICHARDSON, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, citizens of the United States, have invented an Improvement in Mail-Box Time-Indicators; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to an attachment for street letter-boxes such as are in use by the Postal Department of the United States Government.

It consists, essentially, of a mechanically movable device, a means by which information is exposed through the front of the apparatus to indicate the times when mails are collected from boxes, the outgoing mail with which such collections will connect, and other matter necessary or useful for the depositor to know.

It also comprises the means by which the information is changed after each collection, so as to show the hour of the next collection.

It also comprises details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an external view of the box. Fig. 2 is a face view of the inside mechanism, the front door being opened. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the belt-actuatin g mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the center of the belt and surroundings. Fig. 5 shows one end of a slat. Fig. 6 is a detail of the locking of the permanent card. Fig. 7 is a plan of the clamping device of the lower roller to its guides.

The object of this invention is to provide a means for givingimportant information to the public in a clear and concise manner and also to act as a detector and check and furnish abox-testing system by which the movements and'faithfulness of postal employees can be ascertained.

The device may either be made integral with the post-office boxes when the latter are constructed or it may be applied to boxes already in use by simply attaching to the front or adjusted to boxes of any dimensions.

of the ordinary street letter-boxes in use by the Postal Department of the United States Government. In the latter case it bolts directly to the face or front of the letter-box, asshown at A, and may be made of any size In the present case it is shown having a width and length conforming to the front of the letter-box to which it is attached, occupying the space below the roll or drop for mail and covering the surface inclosed by the heading which runs around the front of the box. The depth may be two inches or any suitable or convenient depth for the purpose. The inner equipment of the indicator consists of two rollers B B, one near the top and the other near the bottom of the inclosed space. As shown in our present construction, the upper roller B is journaled in suitable supports and has upon it the sprocket-wheels C, over which the links D of endless chains are arranged to pass, and by the movement of a roller these chains are advanced in unison. The lower roller B has its ends journaled in boxes E, which are slidable upon Vertical guides F, and this roller may be either suspended by the chains passing around it or it may be adjusted at any desired point upon the guides and secured by the clampingscrew g, actuated by a hand-wheel G, or other suitable securing device, so as to provide the proper tension of the chains. Between the chains D extend the strips H, which carry the announcements. These strips have attached to their ends plates (1, which form one section or link of the chain. These plates have one end closed to clasp the link intermediate between the two contiguous plates, and the other end is turned up to form a hook, into which the link of the next contiguous plate upon the opposite side may be hooked. When the chain of plates is thus completed it forms a broad endless band, and by the adjustment of the lower roller a sufficient tension is brought upon this band.

If at any time it be desired to remove or add sections, they are easily unhooked by raising the lower roller, so as to slacken the belt, and any number may be removed or added to suit the exigencies of the case.

The strips forming the belt are here shown as being made of sufficiently rigid material, having the edges turned over to form guides or channels into which the printed slips, which serve to indicate the hours of collection, may be inserted and retained by the turned-over edges. Preferably at one end these edges will be pinched down or closed, so that the card or strip cannot slip out at that end. A horizontal opening or slot I is made through the front of the inclosing case, and this is preferably covered with glass. This opening is of sufficient length and width so that any of the slips brought opposite to it can be plainly seen through the glass. The slips are caused to pass closely against the glazed surface by means of a supporting-bar J, which is fixed across the framework within the case, so that the chains and belt pass over it, and it has a surface which acts to hold the slip passing over it close against the glass. The shaft which carries the upper sprocket-wheels has upon one end a ratchetwheel K and by its side a polygonal wheel L, against which a spring M presses, so that the ratchet-Wheel and shaft will remain at any point to which they may be turned and will not be moved except by direct pressure of some considerable force. The movement of the ratchet is produced by means of a vertically-movable bar 0 at one side of the chamber containing the mechanism. The upper end of this bar has a pin it or is otherwise so constructed as to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel K afterthe bar has been raised to its highest point, and when the bar is again pulled down it acts to turn the ratchetwheel one tooth, thus advancing the chain of indicating-slips to bring the next one in line with the inspection -opening. Thus each movement of the ratchet-wheel will advance the belt one section and at the end of each advance the spring M, pressing against two of the teeth of L, will prevent the device being moved accidentally. The lower end of the bar 0 is connected with a pin 19 of a crankarm P. This crank-arm is fixed upon a shaft which extends through to the letter-containing compartment of the box and has fixed upon its inner end a crank-arm Q. This arm is connected with the door R of the box by a link S, one end of which is connected with the crank-arm Q and the other with a pin 1', fixed in the side of the discharge-door. The connecting-link in this case is slotted, so that the door may move through a considerable portion of its travel without in any way acting upon the crank-shaft and connected pawl-carrying bar. \Vhen the door is closed, the latter part of the closing movement acts through the crank arm and shaft to push the bar 0 upward until its pin or engaging point is in line with a tooth of the ratchet-wheel K. YVhen the door is again opened, itacts during the latter part of its opening movement to turn the crank-shaft and to pull the pawl-bar 0 down, thus forcibly turning the ratchet-wheel forward one tooth. In order to carry this bar clear of the ratchet-wheel at the end of its downward movement, it is made with an inclined ofisct O, and this contacts with a slot in the transverse bar S, fixed in its path of travel, so that as the pawl-bar 0 reaches the lower end of its travel this incline 0 contacts with the fixed bar S, and thus acts to force the bar 0 backwardly and away from the ratchet-wheel. A spring T is fixed so as to press upon the rear edge of the bar 0, and as soon as the bar is moved upwardly this springthrows it forward, so that it is in position to positively engage with the next teeth of the ratchet. This insures the positive action of all the parts and causes the belt carrying the announcements to be advanced one section each time the tilting discharge-door is opened and closed.

The number of collections made during a week-day is very much greater than those which occur on Sundays and holidays, and it is therefore necessary to contrive some means by which the announcement belt will be thrown out of operation on such days. This device consists of a swinging arm U, one end of which is pivoted to the interior framework, and the longer arm is formed similarly to the slats of the belt and carries a card upon which is printed Sundays and holidays. For time of collection, see card below, or some like or equivalent announcement. The other end of the arm extends across the edge of the pawl-carrying bar 0 when this swinging bar has been thrown into a horizontal position, and it has a lug u, which acts to press the pawl-bar back against the tension of the spring T. In this condition the bar 0 is out of line of engagement with the ratchet-Wheel K, and any opening or closing of the discharge-door will simply reciprocate the pawl'-carrying bar without its acting to advance the indicatingbelt. This swinging arm U is pivoted so that when thrown up into a horizontal position the card which it carries will be just in line with the glazed openingin the front, and this card is all that can be seen through the opening. The pivot upon which the arm U swings is extended backward through the partition of the letter-box and into the main chamber or letter-receptacle. It is here connected with a small lever it or arm, attached to it at right angles and by which the pivot carrying the arm U is operated. Any equivalent mechanism may be employed for this purpose. During the week the bar hangs normally in a vertical position and has no action whatever, and during this time the announcement-beltwillbe advanced, as before stated, by each opening and closing of the discharge-door. Upon the last collection before the Sunday or holiday the collector throws this bar up into a horizontal position, and it then serves to direct the users of the box to the card which is permanently fixed upon the door of the case below the inspection-opening. Upon this card are imprinted the hours of collection for Sundays and for holidays.

When the last Sunday or holiday collection has been made or previous to the first collection of the following day, the collector drops the bar U into its normal vertical position, and in doing this it releases the bar 0 and allows it to again engage with the ratchet-wheel, so as to operate the beltcarrying mechanism, as usual. The box is then in readiness for its weekly service.

The permanent cards V may be held in place by a flange around the opening, against which flange the peripheral edges of the card are supported, and the card is held in place by a plate W, which fits into the opening behind the card. The lower edge of this plate is here shown as slightly curved, so that when it is set into place this edge contacts with a raised bar '0, which extends across the lower inner portion of the card-opening and receives this lower edge. The upper edge of the plate is then pressedinwardly against the card, and by means of a button Z, which is turnable to engage with a lug Z, the plate is firmly locked in place and forms a rigid and secure backing and support for the card. It is easily removed at any time by turning the button, and being removable from the inside the cards may be removed, replaced, and

changed without marring or scratching the outside of the box, which is apt to occur when the cards are secured by means of a removable exterior rim or flange.

The apparatus is shown in thepresent case applied to that class of boxes having tilting doors; but it is equally applicable to boxes having doors of any description, the connection being such in any case that the opening and closing of the door will actuate the mechanism.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. Inaletter-collecting box,a main chamber for mail-matter having a vertical partition across its front forming independent chambers, said front chamber having a transverse open slot through its front, rollers journaled in the upper and lower portions of the front supplemental chamber, an endless belt comprising endless chains and slots or sections bearing dates of collection thereon, a discharge-door leading to the main chamber of the box, a vertically-slidable bar movable in the end of the supplemental chamber, connections between said bar and the dischargedoor whereby the bar is reciprocated in unison with the movements of the door and an engaging pin carried by the upper end of the slide adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel fixed upon the upper roller-shaft whereby the latter is moved and the belt advanced by each movement of the discharge-door.

2. A letter-box having a vertical partition across its front, forming a main chamber for mail-matter, and a supplemental compartment in front, a transverse slot made in the front of said supplemental compartment, a

roller permanently journaled in the upper part of the supplemental compartment, a discharge-door opening into the main compartment, mechanism including a slidable bar on the supplemental compartment and connections between said bar and the roller-shaft whereby the latter is given a partial rotation by each opening and closing of said door, a

second roller journaled in boxes in the lower part of the supplemental compartment, said rollers being adapted to carry an endless traveling belt, guides upon which the boxes of the lower roller are slidable for adjustment, and a clamping-screw by which it is retained at any point of adjustment.

3. A letter-box having a vertical partition across its front forming a main and supplemental compartment, a transverse channel made through the front of the supplemental compartment, a discharge-door opening into the main compartment, a shaft or roller carrying sprockets turnable in fixed journal-boxes, a ratchet-wheel carried upon said shaft, a pawl-carrying slidable bar guided and movable in the end of the compartment, connections between said bar and the discharge-door whereby the opening and closing of the latter reciprocates the bar and rotates the upper roller, and a means for holding the roller stationary after each advance, consisting of a wheel fixed upon the shaft having teeth corresponding in number with those of the ratchetwheel, and a spring fixed to press upon two contiguous teeth after each advance of the ratchet-wheel.

4. A letter-box having the main and supplemental compartments, a discharge-door to the main compartment, a roller journaled in fixed bearing in the upper part of the front compartment, a second roller adjustably journaled in the lower part of said compartment, sprocket-wheels fixed upon the upper roller, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism intermediate between the roller and the discharge-door whereby the shafts and sprockets are advanced a partial revolution by each opening and closing of the door, a belt consisting of bars adapted to carry announcements, endless chains consisting of links fixed to each end of each of the'plates, and intermediate links by which they are detachably connected to form an endless band.

5. A letter-collecting box having a main and supplemental compartment, a dischargedoor to the main compartment, a transverse open slot in the front of the supplemental compartment, an endless chain, with sprocket and rollers about which it is supported, mechanism intermediate between the upper roller and the discharge-door whereby the rollers and chain are advanced at each opening and closing of the door, said belt consisting of plates having turned over edges forming guides in which printed cards or announcements are removably held, links fixed upon each end of said bars, intermediate links permanently connected with one end of the fixed IIO links having the other end adapted to disengageably connect with the opposite end of said links whereby the sections may be removed or added to the belt.

6. In a letter-box, a main collecting-chamber having a discharge-door, a supplemental chamber having a horizontal slit or opening across its front, a roller journaled in the up per part of the supplemental chamber, mechanism including a ratchet on the roller-shaft and a slidable bar engaging the ratchet and disposed between it and the discharge-door by which said roller is advanced a partial rotation at each opening and closing of the door, a second roller journaled in boxes in the lower part of the chamber, guides upon which it is vertically adjustable, means for securing the lower roller in its adjusted position, an endless traveling belt consisting of bars adapted to carry the announcements, and chains connecting the ends of the bars and passing over sprocket-wheels upon the upper impellingroller whereby the belt is advanced by each opening and closing of the discharge-door, and a plate fixed opposite to the inspectionopening of the supplemental chamber over which the belt passes between it and the inspection-opening.

7. A letter-box consisting of main and supplemental chambers, a discharge-door for the main chamber, a horizontal inspection-slot made in the front of the supplemental chamber, an endless belt passing over directionrollers, mechanism including a ratchet-wheel on the roller-shaft, and a vertically-slidable bar between it and the discharge-door whereby said roller is advanced at each opening and closing of said door to present a new an nouncement, and a device by which the actuating mechanism is disengaged to prevent the movement of the belt and the inspection-opening cover.

8. A letter-box having main and supplemental compartments, a discharge-door connecting with the main compartment, a transverse slot made in the front of the supplemental compartment, rollers journaled in the upper and lower part respectively of the supplemental compartment with an endless traveling belt thereon, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism intermediate between the upper roller and the discharge-door of the main compartment whereby the opening and closing of the latter rotates the roller and advances the belt, a fulcrumed arm having one end adapted to engage the pawl-carrying bar and disengage it from the ratchet-wheel of the roller, said arm being interposed between the traveling belt and the opening in the front of the supplemental chamber in carrying an announcement thereon.

9. In a letter-collecting box, a main receptacle with receiving and discharge openings, a supplemental independent chamber extending across the front of the box having a transverse open slot across its front, a roller journaled at the top of said chamber carrying sprocket-wheels, a second roller adj ustably journaled in the lower part of the chamber, an endless traveling belt composed of chains and detachable sections having times of removal imprinted thereon, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the actuating-roller shaft, a verticallyslidable pawl-carrying arm and connections between it and the discharge-door whereby the opening and closing of the latter actuate the pawl-arm, a spring by which said arm is normally held so that its pawl engages the ratchet-wheel, and a swinging lever-arm movable into a horizontal position so as to close the inspection-opening of the supplemental chamber, said arm having a lug which engages the pawl-carrying arm and forces the latter out of engagement with the ratchetwheel. I

10. In a letter-collecting box, a main receptacle with receiving and discharge openings and doors, asupplemental independent chamber extending across the front of the box having a transverse open slot across its front, rollers journaled at top and bottom of the supplemental chamber, sprocket-wheels carried by one of said rollers, endless chains passing around said sprocket-wheels and the other roller bars extending between said chains and carried thereby so as to be pre sented successively behind the opening of the supplemental chamber and having the times of removal im printed thereon, mechanism intermediate between the impelling-roller and the discharge-door of the main compartment whereby the opening and closing of said door advances the chains and sections at each movement thereof, a swinging bar adapted to cover the inspection-opening of the supplemental chamber when thrown into a horizontal position and carryinga different announcement, said bar acting to disengage the mechanism by which the endless belt is advanced whereby the latter remains stationary while the bar is in its horizontal position, and a space upon the front of the supplemental compartment below the open slot adapted to receive the card upon which are imprinted the hours of collection other than the regular week-day collections.

11. In a letter-collecting boX, the main and supplemental compartments, an endless traveling belt in the supplemental compartment, mechanism connecting it with the dischargedoor of a main compartment whereby it is advanced by each opening and closing of said door, a transverse slotted opening in the upper portion of the front of the supplemental compartment through which the endless traveling belt and the times of collection carried thereby are exposed, a second opening in the lower part of said front adapted to receive permanent cards announcing collections for holidays and Sundays, a plate fitting said opening behind the card having a button or latch engaging the flange on the inner face of said opening whereby the card is removably held in place.

12. In a letter-collecting box, a main compartment with receiving and discharge doors, a supplemental compartment with an inspection-opening, an endless traveling belt movable in said compartment to pass said opening, mechanism intermediate between the belt and the discharge-door of the main com-' partment, an arm movable to cover the inspection-opening and simultaneously disengage the belt-actuating mechanism, and again engage the operating parts when the opening ELLERY M. HOAGLAND. DANIEL S. RICHARDSON.

. Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. F. ASOHECK. 

